The tour starts in the heart of Venice, in the famous St Mark’s Square (piazza San Marco). This square is considered the “heart” of Venice for a reason: for centuries it was the political centre of the Venetian Republic, the embodiment of its power, wealth and independence. St Mark’s Cathedral houses the remains of St Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of the city, symbolically represented by a winged lion.
On the tour you will see:
The Cathedral of St Mark;
The Doge’s Palace – the most grandiose building of Venice, once the government building of the Venetian Republic, and now – one of the most valuable art museums in the world;
The Church of St Zacharias – was built in the IX century specifically to house the relics of St Zacharias, which Venice received as a gift from the Byzantine Emperor Leo V. In 1105 the church was almost completely burnt down, and it was rebuilt only in the XV-XVI centuries. Today it is one of the finest examples of early Renaissance Venetian architecture;
The Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, known as San Zanipolo. One of the largest churches in the city, it has the status of a minor basilica. It is the main Dominican church in Venice, and as such was built for large gatherings. It is dedicated to St John and St Paul, not to the biblical apostles with the same names, but to two martyrs of the early Christian church in Rome whose names were recorded in the fourth century;
The Greek Church of St George is an Orthodox church in the Castello district, the main church of the Italian Metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The church’s bell tower is tilted;
The house of navigator Mark Polo, a famous traveller and writer, is one of the hidden gems you’ll find as you stroll through the streets and beautiful alleys of Venice, crossing tiny bridges;
The Rialto Bridge is the first and oldest bridge over Venice’s Grand Canal;
The Teatro Goldoni – One of the oldest theatres, opened in 1622. It is located a few hundred metres from the Rialto Bridge in the San Marco district. The Goldoni Theatre is the fourth oldest in Venice;
Saint Luke’s Square – famous for the churches that are located on it;
Goethe’s House – where the German writer lived.
